Vietnam treats human bird flu case

A 31-year-old man has become the 2nd patient to be successfully treated for bird flu (H5N1) so far this year in Vietnam.

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) announced that the patient has recovered and been discharged from the hospital after 19 days of intensive treatment.

His family said they had previously slaughtered and eaten a sick home-raised chicken more than 10 days earlier, from which he later developed a cough and high fever. The entire flock of chicken also died.

Vietnam has so far this year reported 4 bird flu infections, 2 of which have been fatal, after a 20-month absence.

On 21 Mar, the Animal Health Department announced that Vietnam was free of bird flu. According to relevant regulations, a province is considered free from an infectious disease if there is no new infection in three weeks.